Before 1935, 20th Street residents could see games for free over the 12-foot right-field fence of Shibe Park and fans could see the laundry lines on the roofs of 20th Street houses. Connie Mack lost a lawsuit to prevent this, so he built the high right-field 'spite' fence.[1]

1.
Shibe Park
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Shibe Park, known later as Connie Mack Stadium, was a baseball park located in Philadelphia. It was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League, when it opened April 12,1909, it became baseballs first steel-and-concrete stadium. In different eras it was home to The $100,000 Infield, The Whiz Kids, Shibe Park stood on the block bounded by Lehigh Avenue, 20th Street, Somerset Street and 21st Street. It was five blocks west, corner-to-corner, from the Baker Bowl, the stadium hosted eight World Series and two MLB All-Star Games, in 1943 and 1952, with the latter game holding the distinction of being the only All-Star contest shortened by rain. In May 1939, it was the site of the first night game played in the American League, Phillies Hall-of-Fame centerfielder and longtime broadcaster Richie Ashburn remembered Shibe Park, It looked like a ballpark. It had a feeling and a heartbeat, a personality that was all baseball, when as many as 28,000 showed up to fill the 9,500 wooden bleacher seats, Shibe and partner Connie Mack decided the As needed a new place to play. He searched for a site for his new park and found one on Lehigh Avenue between 20th and 21st Streets, five blocks west of Baker Bowl, straddling the neighborhoods known as Swampoodle and Goosetown. It was still primitive at the time, an area of high bluffs, rain-washed gullies, quagmires, open fields, even ponds where chickens pecked. Although a grid of streets was planned for the area, few actually existed, without the hospital, the areas stigma would eventually dissipate, but at the time, the land was still a bargain. He spent a total of $67,500 on seven land packages totaling 5.75 acres, for the design and its execution, Shibe hired William Steele and Sons. Their engineering staff had worked with the new technology of steel-reinforced concrete, and designed and built the citys first skyscraper, the Steele design for the Shibe façade was in the ornate French Renaissance style, including arches, vaultings, and Ionic pilasters. The souvenir program on Opening Day called it a combination of color. Gabled dormer windows on the upper decks copper-trimmed green-slate mansard roof looked out over the streets below, presiding over all were terra cotta busts of Shibe and Mack above the main entrances on Lehigh and 21st. The signature feature of the design was the octangular tower on the southwest corner. On the ground floor was an entrance lobby. Bobby Shantz, pitcher for the As in their last years at Shibe, Shibe was proud of the egalitarianism of the design, he said it was for the masses as well as the classes. In April 1908, design in hand, the Shibes and the Steeles broke ground, with the resources of the Steele firm, construction was speedy, efficient and completed in time to open the 1909 season. The city was excited about its new ballpark – the Philadelphia Public Ledger called it a palace for fans, American League president Ban Johnson pronounced that Shibe Park is the greatest place of its character in the world

2.
Philadelphia
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In 1682, William Penn, an English Quaker, founded the city to serve as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony. Philadelphia was one of the capitals in the Revolutionary War. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became an industrial center. It became a destination for African-Americans in the Great Migration. The areas many universities and colleges make Philadelphia a top international study destination, as the city has evolved into an educational, with a gross domestic product of $388 billion, Philadelphia ranks ninth among world cities and fourth in the nation. Philadelphia is the center of activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia skyline is growing, with a market of almost 81,900 commercial properties in 2016 including several prominent skyscrapers. The city is known for its arts, culture, and rich history, Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city. Fairmount Park, when combined with the adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the watershed, is one of the largest contiguous urban park areas in the United States. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism, Philadelphia is the only World Heritage City in the United States. Before Europeans arrived, the Philadelphia area was home to the Lenape Indians in the village of Shackamaxon, the Lenape are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government. They are also called Delaware Indians and their territory was along the Delaware River watershed, western Long Island. Most Lenape were pushed out of their Delaware homeland during the 18th century by expanding European colonies, Lenape communities were weakened by newly introduced diseases, mainly smallpox, and violent conflict with Europeans. Iroquois people occasionally fought the Lenape, surviving Lenape moved west into the upper Ohio River basin. The American Revolutionary War and United States independence pushed them further west, in the 1860s, the United States government sent most Lenape remaining in the eastern United States to the Indian Territory under the Indian removal policy. In the 21st century, most Lenape now reside in the US state of Oklahoma, with communities living also in Wisconsin, Ontario. The Dutch considered the entire Delaware River valley to be part of their New Netherland colony, in 1638, Swedish settlers led by renegade Dutch established the colony of New Sweden at Fort Christina and quickly spread out in the valley. In 1644, New Sweden supported the Susquehannocks in their defeat of the English colony of Maryland

3.
Connie Mack
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Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy, better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he records for wins, losses. Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics for the clubs first 50 seasons of play, starting in 1901, before retiring at age 87 following the 1950 season, however, constant financial struggles forced repeated rebuilding of the roster, and Macks teams also finished in last place 17 times. Mack was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937, Mack was born Cornelius McGillicuddy in East Brookfield, Massachusetts on December 22,1862. As with many Irish immigrants whose names began with Mc, the McGullicuddys were often referred to as Mack and his parents, Michael McGillicuddy and Mary McKillop, were both immigrants from Ireland. Michael McGillicuddys father was named Cornelius McGillicuddy, and by tradition, Connie is a common nickname for Cornelius, so Cornelius McGillicuddy was called Connie Mack from an early age. Connie Mack never legally changed his name, on the occasion of his marriage at age 48. His nickname on the field was Slats, for his height of 6 feet 2 inches. During the American Civil War, he served with the 51st Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Michael McGillicuddy suffered from several ailments as the result of his military service, he was able to work only infrequently, and drew a disability pension. Mack was educated in East Brookfield, and began working summers in local cotton mills at age 9 to help support his family. He quit school after completing the eighth grade at age 14, intending to work full-time to contribute to the familys support and he clerked at a store, worked on local farms, and worked on the production lines of the shoe factories in nearby towns. Mack was also an athlete, and frequently played baseball. In 1879 his skills landed him a place on East Brookfields town team, though younger than his teammates by several years, Mack was the teams catcher and de facto captain. Beginning in 1886, Mack played 10 seasons in the National League and one in the Players League, for a total of 11 seasons in the major leagues, almost entirely as a catcher. Beginning in 1884, he played on minor league teams in the Connecticut cities of Meriden, in the winter of 1889, he jumped to the Buffalo team of the new Players League, the Bisons, investing his entire life savings of $500 in shares in that club. But the Players League went out of business only a year. In December 1890 Mack signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League, as a player, Mack was a light-hitting catcher with a reputation as a smart player, but didnt do anything particularly well as a player. Mack was one of the first catchers to position himself directly behind home plate instead of in front of the backstop, according to Wilbert Robinson, Mack never was mean

4.
Jimmie Foxx
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Foxx became the second player in MLB history to hit 500 career home runs, after Babe Ruth. Attaining that plateau at age 32 years 336 days, he held the record for youngest to reach 500 for sixty-eight years and his three career Most Valuable Player awards are tied for second all-time. Foxx was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951, Foxx was born in Sudlersville, Maryland on October 22,1907 to Dell and Mattie Foxx, who were farmers. Dell Foxx had played baseball for a team when he was younger. Jimmie Foxx did well in school but excelled in sports, particularly soccer, track and he played all three sports at Sudlersville High School. Foxx dropped out of school early to join a minor league team managed by former Philadelphia Athletics great Frank Home Run Baker. Foxx had hoped to pitch or play third base, but since the team was short on catchers and he immediately drew interest from the Athletics and New York Yankees. Foxx signed with the As and made his league debut in May 1925 at age 17. He was still in his year of high school at the time. The As catching duties were filled by future Baseball Hall of Fame member Mickey Cochrane, so by 1927. In 1929, installed as the As regular first baseman, Foxx had a year, batting.354. That year, Foxx appeared on the cover of Time, in 1932, Foxx hit.364, with 58 home runs with 169 RBIs, missing the Triple Crown by just three points in batting average. Foxx actually hit 60 home runs that year, which would have tied Babe Ruths record, Foxx did win the Triple Crown the following season, with a batting average of.356,163 RBIs, and 48 home runs. He won back-to-back MVP honors in 1932 and 1933, Foxx was one of the three or four most feared sluggers of his era. The great Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez once said of him, He has muscles in his hair, in 1937, Foxx hit a ball into the third deck of the left-field stands at Yankee Stadium, a very rare feat because of the distance and the angle of the stands. Gomez was the pitcher who gave it up, and when asked how far it went, he said, I dont know, but I do know it took somebody 45 minutes to go up there and get it back. When the Great Depression fully hit in the early 1930s, As owner Connie Mack was unable to pay the salaries of his highly paid stars, after a 1936 contract dispute, Mack sold Foxxs contract to the Red Sox for $150,000. Foxx played six years for Boston, including a 1938 season in which he hit 50 home runs, drove in 175 runs, batted.349, won his third MVP award, Foxx is one of nine players to have won three MVPs, only Barry Bonds has more

5.
Paul Richards (baseball)
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Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Philadelphia Athletics, after retiring, he became the manager of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. He also served as the General Manager for the Orioles, the Houston Colt. 45s, born in Waxahachie, Texas, Richards began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues as an infielder in 1926 at the age of 17. In a baseball oddity, Richards pitched with both hands in a Minor League game on July 23,1928 for the Muskogee Chiefs of the Class C Western Association against the Topeka Jayhawks, later in his minor league career, he became a catcher. After playing for seven years in the leagues, he made his major league debut at the age of 23 with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 17,1932. Richards contract was purchased by the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association in June 1932. In 78 games with Minneapolis, he posted a.361 batting average and, with the Giants, Richards served as a reserve catcher working behind Gus Mancuso for the 1933 season. Richards future managing style was influenced by his time spent playing for Giants manager Bill Terry, terrys no-nonsense style of managing that concentrated on pitching and defense, made an impact on Richards. The Giants went on to win the 1933 World Series however, after Richards batted just.160 in 1934, he was traded in May 1935 to Connie Macks Philadelphia Athletics. He caught the majority of the Athletics games in 1935 before being traded to the Atlanta Crackers for pitcher Al Williams in November, Richards was already showing a keen baseball mind as Atlantas catcher in 1936 when he helped turn around pitcher Dutch Leonards career. After three seasons in the leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Leonard had been sent back to the minor leagues where he played with Richards in Atlanta. Richards encouraged him to throw a knuckleball and, within two years, Leonard was back in the leagues with the Washington Senators where, he became a twenty-game winner in 1939. Richards played for the Crackers from 1936 to 1942, from 1938 to 1942 he served as a player-manager for the Crackers. Richards led the Crackers to the pennant in 1938 and The Sporting News named him as minor league manager of the year. When professional baseball experienced a shortage of players during World War II, Richards also served as an unofficial pitching coach for manager Steve ONeill. In the deciding Game 7 of the series, he hit 2 doubles and had 4 runs batted in, Richards was the Tigers starting catcher in six games of the seven-game series and, contributed 6 runs batted in, second only to the 7 produced by Hank Greenberg. He led Buffalo to the International League pennant in 1949 before, in an eight-year major league career, Richards played in 523 games, accumulating 321 hits in 1,417 at bats for a.227 career batting average along with 15 home runs and 155 runs batted in. In 17 minor league seasons, he posted a career.295 batting average with 171 home runs, while he was a light-hitting player, he excelled as a defensive catcher, ending his career with a.987 fielding percentage

6.
American League
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The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League, is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a league based in the Great Lakes states. It is sometimes called the Junior Circuit because it claimed Major League status for the 1901 season,25 years after the formation of the National League. At the end of season, the American League champion plays in the World Series against the National League champion. Through 2016, American League teams have won 64 of the 112 World Series played since 1903, the 2016 American League champions are the Cleveland Indians. The New York Yankees have won 40 American League titles, the most in the history, followed by the Philadelphia/Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Originally a minor league known as the Western League, the American League later developed into a major league after the American Association disbanded, in its early history, the Western League struggled until 1894, when Ban Johnson became the president of the league. Johnson led the Western League into major league status and soon became the president of the newly renamed American League, babe Ruth, noted as one of the most prolific hitters in Major League Baseball history, spent the majority of his career in the American League. The American League has one notable difference versus the National League, in 1902, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis and were renamed the St. Louis Browns. In 1902, The Cleveland Bluebirds were also renamed the Cleveland Broncos, in 1903, the Broncos were renamed the Cleveland Naps. In 1915, the Naps were renamed the Cleveland Indians, in 1903, the Baltimore Orioles moved to New York and were renamed the New York Highlanders. In 1913, the Highlanders were renamed the New York Yankees, in 1904, the Chicago White Stockings were renamed the Chicago White Sox. In 1908, the Boston Americans were renamed the Boston Red Sox, in 1954, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and were renamed as the Baltimore Orioles. In 1955, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City and were renamed as the Kansas City Athletics, in 1961, the league expanded and added two teams as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Senators, expanding the league to 10 teams. The original Senators team moved to Minneapolis/St, Paul in 1961 and were renamed as the Minnesota Twins. The Angels team name changed to the California Angels in 1966, then to the Anaheim Angels in 1997, the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots were added to the American League, expanding the league to 12 teams. In 1970, the Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee and were renamed the Milwaukee Brewers, in 1972, the Washington Senators relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area and were renamed the Texas Rangers. In 1977, the league expanded to fourteen teams, when the Seattle Mariners, in 1998, the Tampa Bay Rays was added to the American League and at the same time, the Milwaukee Brewers were switched to the National League, leaving the American League with 14 teams

7.
1935 Major League Baseball season
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The 1935 Major League Baseball season. Most Valuable Player Hank Greenberg, Detroit Tigers Gabby Hartnett, Chicago Cubs February 5 – Home run king Babe Ruth is released by the New York Yankees. May 24 – At Crosley Field, the Cincinnati Reds and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies played the first night game, may 25 – Babe Ruth of the Boston Braves goes 4-for-4 with three home runs and six runs batted in. It is the last multi-homer game of Ruths career, with the home run being the first ball ever hit to clear the roof at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. May 30 – Babe Ruth ends his career with the Boston Braves of the National League. July 8 – At Cleveland Municipal Stadium, home of the Cleveland Indians, august 31 – Vern Kennedy pitches a no-hitter as the Chicago White Sox defeat the Cleveland Indians, 5–0. October 7 – The Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago Cubs, 4–3, in Game 6 of the World Series to win their first World Championship and this was Detroits first Series victory after failing to win four previous times. November 26 – The National League takes over the bankrupt, last-place Boston Braves franchise after several failed attempts to buy the club, the league takes over only temporarily, until matters can be straightened out

8.
Pinky Higgins
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Higgins was born in Red Oak, Texas. He was nicknamed Pinky as a baby, and according to some reports detested it, alternatively, he was called by either of his given names. He signed some autographs as Frank Higgins, but was known as Mike. Higgins graduated from W. H. Adamson High School in Dallas and he attended the University of Texas at Austin before beginning his career with the Philadelphia Athletics on June 25,1930. After only 24 at bats that year, he did not play in the majors again until 1933, in his rookie season of 1933, he batted.314 with 13 home runs and 99 RBIs. He hit for the cycle on August 3 in a 12–8 win over the Washington Senators, the As of that year finished third in the American League. In his first two years with the Bosox, he hit over.300 with a career-high 106 RBIs in both years. In June 1938, he set a league record with base hits in 12 consecutive at bats. His mark was tied by Walt Dropo in 1952, who made his 12 straight knocks in 12 appearances and he would next head to the Detroit Tigers in a trade for submarine pitcher Elden Auker, where he would spend the majority of his playing career. It was also where his numbers dropped while his power numbers still stayed fairly strong. Boston got Higgins back in mid-1946 as the regular third baseman. The Red Sox then released him, and he retired to become a manager in the Red Sox farm system and his final numbers included a.292 batting average with 140 home runs and 1,075 RBIs. He accumulated 1,941 career hits in 6,636 at bats, Higgins started his managing career with the Class B Roanoke Red Sox of the Piedmont League in the Red Sox farm system in 1947. After eight seasons of managing in the minors — including four at the helm of the Red Sox AAA affiliate, Higgins first team saw a hot July and August but a September debacle and a fourth-place finish. In 1959, with the 40-year-old Williams injured, the Red Sox lost 42 of their first 73 games, and on July 3, Higgins was replaced as manager by Billy Jurges, a coach with the Washington Senators. However, he stayed in the organization as assistant to Bosox owner Tom Yawkey. After a promising end to the 1959 season, Jurges Red Sox plummeted into last place in the weeks of the 1960 campaign. Jurges was fired on June 10,1960, then, after coach Del Baker handled the Red Sox for seven games, Higgins was re-installed as manager, but the pitching-poor Red Sox continued to lose

9.
1935 Detroit Tigers season
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The 1935 Detroit Tigers won the 1935 World Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 2. The season was their 35th since they entered the American League in 1901 and it was the first World Series championship for the Tigers. As the 1934 Detroit Tigers won a club-record 101 games, the team made few changes in the off-season to alter their winning combination, Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane returned as the teams manager and catcher. Known as Black Mike, Cochrane is considered one of the greatest catchers of all time, in 1935, he hit.319 with a.452 on-base percentage,96 walks,93 runs scored, and 33 doubles. Aside from his contributions as a player, Cochrane was invaluable as a manager and leader, Charlie Gehringer later said, When Mickey was managing the Tigers from behind the plate I cant remember him ever fouling up anything. Seemed like he made snap judgments that always worked out well, the Detroit infield of the 1934–1935 seasons was one of the best-hitting combinations in MLB history. With Hank Greenberg at first, Charlie Gehringer at second, Billy Rogell at shortstop, and Marv Owen at third, hammerin Hank Greenberg led the major leagues with 170 RBIs in 1935—the eighth highest single season total in major league history. The second highest RBI total in the AL that year was Lou Gehrigs 119—51 fewer than Hank, Greenberg also led the major leagues in 1935 with 36 home runs,98 extra base hits,389 total bases, and 159 runs created. He also hit for average, with a.328 batting average.411 on-base percentage, Greenberg was named the American Leagues Most Valuable Player for 1935. Charlie Gehringer also had a season, hitting.330 for the year. He was also among the leaders with 123 runs,201 hits,125 runs created,306 total bases,19 home runs. Gehringer also led AL second basemen with 489 assists and a.985 fielding percentage, Gehringer finished 6th in the AL MVP voting in 1935. Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was given the nickname The Mechanical Man by Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez, Mickey Cochrane joked that Charlie says hello on Opening Day, goodbye on closing day, and in between hits.350. Shortstop Billy Rogell hit.275 and scored 88 runs in 1935 while drawing 80 walks, Rogell also led AL shortstops with 104 double plays and a.971 fielding percentage. Rogell and Gehringer played over 1,000 games together as the Tigers double play combination, rogells fiery demeanor was a stark contrast to the calm, quiet demeanor of Gehringer. Once, after failed to cover second on a steal attempt, Mickey Cochrane charged out from behind the plate shouting at Rogell. As reported in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Rogell, Gehringer, of course, had nothing to say. Don’t you come charging out here telling me how to play shortstop and you go back there and do the catching, and I’ll play shortstop

10.
Ben Shibe
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Benjamin Franklin Shibe was an American sporting goods and baseball executive who was owner and president of the Philadelphia Athletics of the American League from 1901 until his death. He is credited with the invention of the automated stitching machinery to make standardized baseballs, Shibe Park was named in his honor from 1909 to 1954. Shibe died in 1922, and is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Shibe was a leader of the local baseball fraternity no later than the 1870s. Prior to purchasing the Athletics, Shibe and his sons worked for A. J. Reach & co, Shibe and his sons bought 50 percent of the Athletics from Charles Somers in 1901. At that time, he was named president, a title he would retain until his death. He took on manager Connie Mack and two sportswriters as part-owners, in 1913, Shibe made Mack a full partner, ceding him complete authority over the baseball side of the operation. When Shibe died in 1922, his sons Tom and John became president and vice-president of the As, however, Mack was now the operating head of the franchise. Tom died in 1936, with John following in 1937 and their heirs would retain a minority stake in the team until 1950. Photograph of Benjamin Shibe, Connie Mack and others at the groundbreaking of Shibe Park in 1908 courtesy Temple University Libraries SABR Biography Ben Shibe at Find a Grave

11.
George Blaeholder
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George Franklin Blaeholder was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Blaeholder began his career in 1925 with the St. Louis Browns, back in the minors in 1926, he returned to the majors with the Browns in 1927, where he again saw limited duty, pitching only 9 innings. He spent most of the four seasons with the Tulsa Oilers. In 1928, he became a regular pitcher, posting a 10–15 record. In 1929, Blaeholder posted arguably his best season, going 14-15 with a 4.18 earned run average and four shutouts. He won 10 or more games in 7 seasons with the Browns, but the Browns were a losing team. During the 1935 season, he was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for Sugar Cain and he went 6-10 for the Athletics that year. The following year, he played his season with the Cleveland Indians, where he went 8–4. After leaving th emajor leagues, Blaeholder spent the six seasons with the minor league Milwaukee Brewers before retiring. Blaeholder is most noted for popularizing the slider pitch, pitchers had previously used the pitch, but not nearly as extensively as Blaeholder threw it, as the pitch was considered by pitchers at the time to ruin the arm. Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference